Ange resolute as Socceroos' WC fate looms

Even a glance down the abyss of a potential first World Cup qualifying failure in 12 years isn't enough to diminish the resolve of a Socceroos coach famous for his full-throttle philosophy and unbending commitment to attractive, progressive soccer.

There'll be no parking the bus against Syria in Malaysia on Thursday night, nor a departure from his now-signature 3-2-4-1 formation or high-tempo style.

This is it for the Socceroos.

After 18 matches -- for 12 wins, four draws and two losses -- over almost 30 months, it comes down to a sudden-death home-and-away series against outliers Syria.

World Cup qualifying playoffs are a notoriously different beast and hinge on the smallest of margins.

All six of Asia's home-and-away play-off legs across the past three World Cups have ended in draws.

But the core of Postecoglou's squad is in a rich vein of club form and, apart from injured captain Mile Jedinak and suspended defender Bailey Wright, he has a near-full compliment from which to draw.

"In terms of the formation, we've set off on this path and we'll continue down it" Postecoglou said.

"I see a lot of growth and development in that area. It suits our players, the kind of football we want to play and where we are at the moment as a team.

"On Thursday night it's going to be up to the opposition to try and keep up with us for two games, not just the one.

"It's going to test them in ways they probably haven't been tested before."

It's an approach that's earned Postecoglou high plaudits and brutal condemnation in equal measure, stemming from mixed team displays that can, on the one hand, have South American champions Chile on the ropes while on the other, struggle to find answers against lesser opposition.

The failure to qualify directly in Melbourne last month kicked off some calls for Postecoglou's head, prompting his employer Football Federation Australia to step in and declare he'd be going nowhere until the end of this World Cup cycle.

Whether that time comes next year in Russia or next Tuesday in Sydney comes down to the next 180 minutes.

Regardless, the 52-year-old makes no apologies for refusing to sacrifice his ideology and yield to calls for a tactical revamp.

"That's not my philosophy," Postecoglou said.

"I get it, there are different schools of thought and debates.

"But I'd be absolutely astounded if anyone is surprised at what I'm doing and saying, because I've been coaching for 20 years.

"Maybe some people are questioning whether they should have said I was the right man for the job four years ago; you've just got to be careful what you wish for.

"Some people probably went along with it thinking I was flavour of the month and now probably think I wasn't the right person.

"It's who I am, it's how I coach.

"It's been very successful for me and continues to be, and will be in the future.